Heating a well pit (or outbuilding)

That being said, what does a freeze up cost you? We always place two small heaters, usualy at auctions I get them for less than a dollar, some are new in the box.

The max for 110 volt lines are around 1,500 watt, and that is what most heaters are. So therefore we run a different line for each heater, on different legs of the the service.

We seldom get thanks for our work, but have had costomers say thanks when they discoverd one heater not working, and the other one saving their rear ends.

Remember mice and rats enjoy warm as much as we do, so put out twice as much poision as you think is practical also.

We sometimes, not real often have wirred in a thermostat within the dog houses, and that wire runs to a light bulb outside in plain view. The thermostat is set around 36 degrees so that when the temperature gets there it tells you there is something wrong. Most guys don't care about a few dollars, and set the temperature of the heaters for around 40-50 degrees. Very costly perhaps, but when you mention insurance costs, medical, gas etc. it realy means nothing in the big picture, compared to a freeze up.

A old farmer that raised cattle one time made me pour a six foot x six foot cement pit under every cattle water, six foot deep with a precast lid. I kinda cussed because of the time involved, not to mention we had to lay two lines from the house to each water--never a tee in any of the water lines. The electrical wirring was basicly the same--two lines for each in the same plastic drain tile. The water lines were in a four inch plastic sewer pipe anytime we went under the concrete. Golly it seemed like alot of expence, but now thirty five years later when you consider what little electricity he has used because the heat from the ground keeps the waters from freezing, he has probably been paid back several times. I will say it sure is fun changing out a old cattle waterer for him as you stand upright to make the connections in the pit.

Gene

THANK YOU, Don! I was not aware that heat tape could be a fire hazard. My thanks to Chris, too, for suggesting heat tape. The next question though: What kinds of low temp heaters are out there? Any specific brands with which you've had good luck?

ANY electric heater will work, just get the appropriate thermostat.

For ONE source of a handy thermostat, scroll down to:

"ACF Prewired Thermostat
Plug-N-Play, No Wiring Needed"

• Thermostats